Myrrh Ka Ba – There is Only One of Us Here (2011)

After giving one track from this a spin on soundcloud, I immediately went forth and purchased the EP from Tundra Dubs (Myrrh Ka Ba's debut on the label). I'll point out that this wasn't exactly heroics of the highest order because this lovely little collection is what we call “reasonably priced”. Less than $2 for 5 tracks of this quality?! FUCK YES.

I've been following Myrrh Ka Ba's career for the past year with some interest. From his solo stuff to his work with Zombelle (both before and during the Disaro tour earlier this year) he has retained a certain production style regardless of which genre he has been playing with. Maybe that's a little unfair... It's more that he creates a delicious fusion of many elements, including psych-rave synths, tight and crisp 808 beats, a fearless approach to vocal manipulation and a mixing skill that almost gives the whole thing a feel very particular to this producer.

SO! Onto the EP itself. First thing's first: “Pocket Monsters” is a fucking CHOON. The use of vocal samples, twisted and dragged and layered, gives an overall stunning effect. Add a glo-fi synth line and chill with one laid back drum beat, makes one tasty sonic drink.

Eye M Dem is goth'dup dancey masterpiece, dripping with bassy gloriousness, and bears some resemblance to “Tropocalypse” on the Tropicult EP that he and Zombelle collaborated on recently. Same sort of chord sequence and bass sound, but a more mature sound, and – dare I say it? – DANCIER.

“Go!” brings to mind some kind of twisted mashup of UK garage and trance music (BY NO MEANS A BAD THING). I think the ideas work really well together, but don't quite gel as much as I would've liked. On the other hand, EP opener “432hz” (the number which apparently expresses the true “key note” of music, and proposing a true one-ness in sound with universe, just slightly below the frequency that represents the A above middle C) modernises trip-hop in such a way to make it feel fresh and relevant again, whilst not seeming out of place with it's brethren on the EP. For a track with a transcendental name, it really does what it says on the tin, too.

To sum: fucking buy it. It's a glorious little head-fuck thing for a fraction of the price of something half as catchy.

- Bunny